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Down Syndrome Script Down syndrome is a condition caused by a child
born with 47 chromosomes or a third copy of the 21st chromosome. The condition is genetic.
If a woman gives birth to a child with Down syndrome, she is more likely to bear further
children with Down syndrome if she continues to have children. Physically, children born
with Down syndrome tend to have a flattened face, eyes with an upward slant, small hands
and feet, a short neck, and a flattened nose and other characteristics. Their physical
development also occurs more slowly than that of unaffected children. Mentally, children
with Down syndrome are said to have mental retardation which affects their ability to
learn. Down syndrome ranges from moderate to severe. The condition leaves those affected
with a greater chance of contracting a variety of medical complications such as dementia,
cataracts and gastrointestinal issues. Children with Down syndrome may have limitations
but their life expectancy is currently longer than it has ever been, and with proper support
along the way, have become active, contributing members of society that lead normal lives.
As learners, children with Down syndrome do face difficulties and delays cognitively.
However, it has been proven that with the right interventions and support they are tremendously
capable. As an agriculture teacher, I have only had
one experience with a child that has Down syndrome. I did not have him in class, but
our shop teacher did. I was able to work with him on his SAE which was raising a market
hog at the school farm. Having Down syndrome did not affect his ability to properly raise
a market hog, understand the needs of the animal or the proper ways to show the animal.
In fact, I believe the nature of the project enabled him to be very successful. One of
the recommendations when teaching students with Downs is to do so using a series of steps.
Cleaning up after and caring for the animal involved steps, steps the he mastered quite
quickly. In terms of showing, unfortunately, the young man’s parents did not let him
attend and show at the county fair. But, he did show in both market and showmanship at
our local show and he did very well. I think that Down syndrome is not a condition
that is necessarily going to inhibit a child from having a particular SAE. Considering
that an SAE be it shop, garden or livestock in nature is going to involve hands on activities,
manipulatives and series of steps to be followed, SAE in general is setting up a child with
Downs for success. What a wonderful and practical way to teach this type of student a multitude
of useful skills. An SAE can be tailored to meet any students’ needs but I feel little
change would be necessary for the Downs student and that the benefits are endless.
As for FFA activities, I think the possibilities are endless. Local meetings, barbeques, field
trips and community service are all areas where these students can be included and they
would generally be treated with autonomy and respect. These students are capable of serving
at fundraiser dinners and donating or running donation drives, attending and playing games
at meetings just the same as the ordinary student. I would recommend that meeting games
be ones that include everyone at the meeting so that the Downs student doesn’t have to
feel embarrassed by volunteering and doing something silly in front of a crowd. Instead
have whole meeting treasure hunts or scavenger hunts where everyone is involved and included.
Another idea would be having a costume meeting and having a runway that everyone walked to
show off their costume. These types of activities make the Downs student one of a large group
where everyone is doing and enjoying the same thing.
After watching videos and reading numerous articles, it seems that that is the wish of
many students with Downs. They want to be treated the same as their peers. FFA provides
unique opportunities for these students to feel exactly that.